Scottish universities have invested in 31 new PhD studentships to help boost the chemicals industry.

The Scottish Funding Council, ScotCHEM, and Chemical Sciences Scotland announced the initiative in mid-September. It will give students at Heriot-Watt University, The University of Edinburgh and five other Scottish universities the chance to work on challenges identified by Scotland’s £3.5 billion chemical industry.

The SFC and the seven universities involved will invest £1.8 million over three years in the project.

Dr Sandy Dobbie, Chairman of Chemical Sciences Scotland, said: “Today’s announcement marks a step-change in developing deeper collaboration between our universities and the chemicals industry.

“By encouraging our research base to focus on industry issues and opportunities, we can improve our global competitiveness and develop new technologies that can be exploited by companies operating from Scotland.”

The Scottish Government also welcomed the initiative. Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish Secretary for Education, said: “Ensuring universities are responsive to the needs of industry is central to our purpose of increasing sustained economic growth which will benefit everyone in Scotland.”